In Andrew Breitbart’s up-and-down career as a conservative agitator, it doesn’t get any better than this.

Ten days ago, he broke the Rep. Anthony Weiner Twitter scandal on his website, Big Government, then on Monday pushed it to its conclusion with the release of more photos of Weiner, forcing the beleaguered New York congressman to hold a self-flagellating press conference hours later.

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VIDEO: Breitbart on Weiner

VIDEO: Weiner apologizes

POLITICO 44

At the same time, Breitbart managed to steer clear of the accusations of selective editing and bias that have stuck to him as a result of several high-profile “scoops” that turned into fiascos, while painting himself as a victim of a left-leaning press quick to blame him for somehow engineering a scandal that, in the end, was entirely of Weiner’s own making.

Breitbart’s glee was apparent even before Weiner’s confession when he jumped up on the podium before the New York congressman’s press conference Monday afternoon to take questions from reporters and demand an apology. So, too, was his sense of exoneration after the way the left-leaning and mainstream media had painted him as a questionable source in the past.

“I would like an apology for allowing his political protectors – and this was his strategy – to blame me, to blame me for hacking,” Breitbart said. “’Don’t worry, Breitbart is a regular whipping boy. We can accuse him of anything and the press will not hold those journalists to account no matter what they say.’

“So I’m here for some vindication,” he said, declaring that “the big problem here is the coverup and the problem of trying to deflect blame on a journalist for doing his job.”

Breitbart’s seemed to be speaking not just for the last week and a half, during which left-leaning media outlets like the Daily Kos suggested he might have been involved in hacking Weiner’s Twitter account, but for his broader profile in the mainstream media.

That profile was shaped by the series of undercover sting videos Big Goverment posted in 2009 that appeared to show employees of the left-leaning community organizing powerhouse ACORN offering advice on facilitating underage prostitution. The tapes had a devastating effect - ACORN was eventually disbanded - but were later revealed to have been misleadingly edited.

The videos left the false impression that Breitbart protégé James O’Keefe was dressed in a cartoonish pimp suit while soliciting the advice from ACORN workers. Breitbart himself reinforced that impression, though he later admitted he “did not know that there was a discrepancy” between O’Keefe’s dress during an introductory sequence in the videos and that which he wore during his secretly filmed discussions.

Then last summer explosive video excerpts posted by Breitbart on Big Government forced the ouster of a black Agriculture Department official named Shirley Sherrod, who appeared in excerpts of a speech to be boasting of discriminating against a white farmer.

More complete footage released after Sherrod’s forced resignation showed that the speech was actually an appeal for racial harmony in which she recounted a change of heart that led her to help the white farmer.

Sherrod, who recently returned to work at the USDA , is suing Breitbart for “publishing an intentionally false and misleading clip” in a case that continues to wend its way through the legal process.

Readers' Comments (428)

While Brietbart was indeed vindicated by the accuracy of his reporting, it must be remembered that he took down the poster child of the progressive left. They will really be gunning for him now, possibly in more than just a philisophical manner. Andrew, watch your back!

I have my doubts about the way in which you worded this article. This does not sound like what he was saying on Sean Hannity tonight. Breitbart on Big Government seems to get more things right then most other news feeds. Especially the news feeds paid for by Soros.

Even the National Enquirer is correct every now and then. All Breitbart is doing is engaging in yellow journalism and if he thinks it enhances his credibility to be right one time, well how is that working out for the National Enquirer? Breitbart likes it when he becomes the story, as he did today. I don't see a Pulitzer Prize in his future. The whole thing is slightly creepy.

Even the National Enquirer is correct every now and then. All Breitbart is doing is engaging in yellow journalism and if he thinks it enhances his credibility to be right one time, well how is that working out for the National Enquirer? Breitbart likes it when he becomes the story, as he did today. I don't see a Pulitzer Prize in his future. The whole thing is slightly creepy.

The Enquirer broke the Edwards story during his campaign, but was ignored by all the Lib Media because he was a DEM. Based on your post you must rely on those leftwing news sources exclusively, try getting out once in a while.

Then at his press conference he said there was a even more devastating shot, which he described as “x-rated.” He said he was withholding it to protect Weiner’s family, but hinted that he might be forced to release it if Weiner continued to malign him with his denials.

But that wasn’t necessary. At his own press conference, Weiner repeatedly admitted he had lied and after being prompted by several reporters, he apologized to Breitbart by name.

This is just tooooooo good. DON'T you hate it when a lib gets caught with their pants down in a sex scandal and THEN won't resign from their job!! Don't worry, he will because they will throw him out of Congress.

This just can't be right- why I saw on the Huffers post, and democratic underground all about Briebart had scammed us all, made it all up that it was another Breitbart hoax. Why the Daily Kos was outing underage girls(way to go big brave smart guys! You show those tweens who's boss!) to protect the angelic Weiner, the latest victim of the evil devil that is called Breitbart.......and then Lil Tony fesses up(I imagine an investigation was about to begin and he knew he would have to purger himself and he would still get caught anyway, too much evidence to deny) and now the silence on the left is kinda deafening.......

But I am sure that each of the fine upstanding civil sites will have an apology on their top line tomorrow and if you buy that I'll throw the golden gate in for free.....

Vindicated, my creamy white ass. Breitbart is just another journalist of personal destruction, on a seek and destroy mission from underneath the bedcovers and peeking from toilets of America. I'm disgusted that Breitbart (a) waited to pounce on Weiner, his ideological opposite, with no other goal but to destroy him; and (b) chose this stupid, silly, immature yet benign issue to expose his ideological enemy. Disgusting! Breitbart, you ALMOST had my admiration for handing another journalist of personal destruction, Martin Bashir, his own head on a bloody platter. Now you're no better than that despicable, lying, unethical, cheating, lowlife Pakistani backstabber. You can both sink to the bottom of the ocean--the sooner, the better--for all the good this pointless "scandal" contributed to the American people. Ugh. Journalism in America is swirling the bowl...PERMANENTLY...and Breitbart and Bashir are the reasons why. I'm so embarrassed to be an American today.

If the MSM had any cajones and did a factual and fair reporting job, regardless of the D, R, or I after their name, there would be no need for Breitbart. Thank God we still have a few like him who are willing to go after powerful politicians and not shy away for fear of losing access to them....which is the game Obama is playing with any journalist who dares to cross him

Who started the rumor that Breitbart hacked Weiner's twitter account? Was someone in the Weiner camp attempting to frame Breitbart? This could have been serious because that would have been a felony. Democrats play dirty don't they! Time to track this down and make the person or persons responsible pay.

Greasy DEMOLIBS are the cancer of this great country of ours and people like Breitbart, Coulter, Limabaugh, Hannity, Savage, etc are the cure. Actually a great job by Politico on this story by not letting it slide. Kudos.

Your *ss is burning not because Breitbart took down that **** Weiner, but for something much bigger...Breitbart is leading a new vanguard of insurgent truth-seekers who are TAKING DOWN THE MSM every time he gets the goods on a socialist parasite Democrat and SLOWLY drips the truth out. He starts with a questionable and deniable post, sometimes using a proxy, forcing denial from the target, allowing the MSM to circle the wagons around him, showing their lackof objectivity, then torturing the MSM with increasingly damning evidence until they have to surrender and admit they MISSED THE STORY yet again entirely due to thier ideological failings! And every time the MSM blows it, they lose a big hunk of credibility, and Dems lose more capability of their unpaid propaganda ally...CNN is still biased as hell, but they had a couple early defectors on the Weiner story...ABC is defecting a bit since '08, NBC is still Pravda West, but they better change policy on liberal bias or die a horrible death by ratings...PRAISE THE GENIUS BREITBART!...HE IS PLAYING THE MSM LIKE CHARLIE DANIELS PLAYS DEVIL WENT DOWN TO GEORGIA!!!!! EEEE-HAAAAHHHHH!!!! (a little redneck holler for ya there libtard)

Its not the issue of being stupid and doing what he did. Its the liberal spin that engulfs everyone in the mess that riles me. Along with idiots like you blessing the behavior and shooting the messenger. You are the worst America has to offer.

Weiner obviously lied and was caught crotchless. He did blame Brietbart. He lied and lied at every presser. Weiner is a shameful little man who now has power...kinda like the kid that was made fun of and now he has power and the rules do not apply. What a perv and he is in Congress..he needs to go. Pelosi said she would have the most ethical congress...Rangel and now Weiner are clinging. Lee and Foley are gone.

Weiner is an idiot. That goes without saying. Even though I just said it. Breitbart is a far right wing lunatic whose main agenda is making Breitbart wealthy spreading gossip, distortions and carrying water for the far right elitists whose dirty work he does. He's sort of a downscale Roger Ailes. A slimeball. Somebody somewhere will find the dirt on Breitbart. Some child will come forward or some woman he attacked ( oh wait a minute didnt that just happen?) will come forward and yet aother sleezy rightwing lunatic will bite the dirt. Think Vic Gold